With former Kaizer Chiefs captain and assistant coach, Patrick Mabedi, now mentoring Amakhosi after the team parted ways with Steve Komphela, it shall be interesting to see how the team finishes the season under his tutelage. Mabedi is no stranger to heading up a tactical team as he held the same position at Cape Town All Stars last season, but this is a much bigger stage.
Maritzburg United are high on confidence as they’ve recently knocked Mamelodi Sundowns out of the Nedbank Cup to reach their first cup final ever in this record-breaking season. Another source of intrigue is the return of Siyanda Xulu to Gauteng to face his former team. “Magazi”, as he is affectionately known, was reportedly accused by Komphela for leaking team tactics ahead of the 2015 Telkom Knockout final to Mamelodi Sundowns whom he represented before going to Russia. The Brazilians would go on to demolish Chiefs 3-1 with Magazi tasting game time only sporadically until he left the club in the middle of last year. His splendid performances for The Team of Choice have seen many pundits tipping him for the Defender of the Season Award.
Absa Premiership
Saturday 28 April
FNB Stadium
15:00
To Win
Kaizer Chiefs 9/10
Draw 22/10
Maritzburg United 3/1
Kaizer Chiefs
Amakhosi, who are enduring their third trophyless season, will be looking to just finish the season on a high and give their fans an indication that next season will be different. Patrick Mabedi will be in charge of his second game as the team’s interim coach as Steve Komphela has stepped down from the hot seat after violent crowd behaviour. Fan attendance at FNB Stadium has been atrocious and I’m expecting the same for this encounter.
Kaizer Chiefs have won their last four matches against the Team of Choice and the last time Amakhosi lost to the KZN outfit in a competitive match was eight games ago, but it will be hard for them against Fadlu Davids’ men who are playing like a well-oiled machine this season.
Maritzburg United
The Nedbank Cup finalists are enjoying a record-breaking season as they have already breached the 42-point mark in a single season for the first time in their history, and they have already won 11 games in a single season for the first time ever. Over and above that, they have reached their first ever cup final.
Former Chiefs defenders, Siyanda Xulu and Bevan Fransman, will have a point to prove and Siphesihle Ndlovu, who’s a hot favourite for the Young Player of the Season Award, knows that he has to step up in big games like these to deserve the accolade. I don’t think Davids will have to rest some of his players as the Nedbank Cup is only taking place 17 days later.
The Team of Choice will look to Fortune Makaringe to pull the strings in the middle of the park like he did in the Nedbank Cup semi-final when they thrashed Mamelodi Sundowns 3-1 as he was directly involved in all three goals, providing two assists and scoring one. His combination with Lebohang Maboe is absolutely sensational.
Probable line-ups:
Kaizer Chiefs: 3-4-3
Khune; Cardoso, Ngezana, Masilela; Molangoane, Ekstein, Katsande, Zulu; Tshabalala, Castro, Moon.
Free State Stars: 4-4-2
Ofori; Fransman, Xulu, De Reuck; Sanoka, Makaringe, Maboe, Shandu; Ndlovu, Fileccia, Mekoa.
Prediction: Maritzburg United Win (3/1)
Chiefs will be hoping to give their fans some glimpses of hope for next season, but they will be up against a team that has toppled arguably the best side in the country in the Nedbank Cup. Amakhosi players are also adapting to the new coach’s tactics against a much stronger side. I foresee Maritzburg getting the better of Amakhosi and the hosts appointing a new permanent coach, as opposed to giving Mabedi a chance next season.
Written by Benedict Ngwenya